STUART - Work to complete the soon-to-be-celebrated Veterans Memorial Bridge is moving at a brisk pace, with crews pouring the last bridge deck, installing the pedestrian aluminum railing along the bridge, painting the bridge and completing adjacent roadways. This new bridge spans the St. Lucie River and Okeechobee Waterway, connecting Indian Street in Stuart and C.R. 714 in Palm City.

On Saturday, Nov. 16 the Martin County Board of County Commissioners and its partners will host a public dedication event for the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

District 5 Commissioner John Haddox will emcee the ceremony, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony will include a presentation of colors by a local post of the VFW Honor Guard, a performance by Martin County High School's OPUS chorale, and remarks from dignitaries including the Honorable Congressman Patrick Murphy and State Rep. Gayle Harrell as well as representatives of the Federal Highway Administration and Florida Department of Transportation. A car parade over the bridge will immediately follow the ceremony. The event will take place on the west side of the bridge in Palm City (Butler Avenue area). A 5K run, organized by MCM Timing and Results LLC, will precede the ceremony. The community is invited and encouraged to participate in the event.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge was first recognized as a need locally in 1965 and has been part of the County's Comprehensive Growth Management Plan for more than 25 years. The project has received support from local, state and federal agencies. The project was one of Florida's largest funding recipients under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Bridge construction began in 2010. Upon completion, the 3,069-foot long Veterans Memorial Bridge will improve connectivity to highways, the Interstate and Turnpike and will reduce traffic congestion in the area to maintain compliance with the County's Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. The bridge features bike lanes, sidewalks and overlooks. The entire project length spans approximately two miles and includes the widening of intersections at both ends of the bridge. The bridge is expected to be open to traffic before Christmas.